Why You Can Trust CNET Mother's Day gifts under $50
When it comes to Mother's Day gifts, some folks are more frugal than others. But that doesn't mean you can't get something good for not too much dough.
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Looking for a bargain gift this Mother's Day? Well, you've come to the right spot. Here's a quick round up some relatively inexpensive items we think moms will appreciate.
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Just what every mom needs: A micro wireless speaker to play her jams on. Not only does this fully waterproof Bluetooth speaker (IPX7) have improved battery life and better sound than the Clip 2, it's more durable, thanks to the integrated carabiner acting as a bumper around the entire perimeter of the speaker. It's one of the top speakers for its tiny size and costs just $40.
Roku makes several excellent video streamers that cost around $50 or less. They turn any HDMI-equipped TV into a gateway to online entertainment bliss: Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, YouTube, Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, HBO Now and literally hundreds of other streaming channels.
We like both the Premiere Plus for $49, which has a voice remote, and the Premiere ($39), which doesn't. Both of those models stream 4K video, but if you don't have a 4K TV, the Roku Express is a good value at $30.
The Mophie Powerstation Mini is a very slim -- and slick-looking -- charging brick that houses a 3,000mAh battery which should fully charge up most phones. No cable is included, but you can get these in a two-pack on Amazon for $30 (only the blue version is available at that price, but it does come in other color options).
If you're not ready to splurge on a pair of Apple AirPods (or otherwise fairly pricey totally wireless earphones), there are some affordable options out there, including the TaoTronics True Wireless earbuds ($45), that are pretty decent. They may not deliver stellar sound (the AirPods don't either), but most people will find it perfectly acceptable. They have Bluetooth 5.0 and five hours of battery life at moderate volume levels. They're also sweatproof so Mom can use them at the gym.
Logitech's K380 has been around for a while, but it's still a great keyboard for the money -- perfect for computers, tablets, phones and more. You can find it for less than $30 online.
The $40 BioLite PowerLight Mini is a handy lantern, bike light and charger all in one. You clip it to a pocket or strap, or mount it to your bike (mount included), and its 1,350mAh USB rechargeable battery provides up to 52 hours of light. It can also give your phone a backup boost. Lighting modes include white lantern, red night vision, red and white strobe, and white point light. It's a great choice for eco-minded folks who enjoy camping or other outdoor activities.
Another candidate for best value wireless speaker, the
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Amazon's mini Alexa voice-enabled speaker comes in three different color options. Its list price is $49.99 but it typically sells for less.
We can't include the Echo Dot in this gift roundup without also including Google's voice-enabled mini speaker, the Google Home Mini. Not everyone's an Amazon person and many prefer Google's voice assistant over Alexa. Available in four color options, it lists for $49 but like the Echo Dot, is usually discounted.
CNET's Mother's Day gift guide
- These are our favorite gifts for Mother's Day 2019
- Cool cheap gifts for Mother's Day 2019
- Mother's Day gifts under $50
- Best Mother's Day gifts from $100 to $250
- Mother's Day gifts to get her streaming with ease, starting at $30
- Mother's Day gift ideas for health nuts and fitness buffs
- Best Mother's Day gifts for foodie moms
- Mother's Day gifts for the Mom who's got game
- Thoughtful gifts for every kind of mom
- Mother's Day gifts for moms who love coffee (Chowhound)
- CNET's Mother's Day gift hub